NO GAMES, PUTIN

Starmer warns the despot to act now and back ceasefire

- LIZZY BUCHAN and CHRIS HUGHES

KEIR Starmer has warned Vladimir Putin to stop playing games over a ceasefire in Ukraine, as the PM gathers global allies to hammer out peacekeeping plans.

After Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky said Putin is trying to sabotage the proposed 30-day ceasefire plan by setting "difficult and unacceptable conditions" Starmer said: "We can't allow President Putin to play games with [Donald] Trump's deal."

He added: "The Kremlin's complete disregard for President Trump's ceasefire proposal only serves to demonstrate that Putin is not serious about peace.

"If Russia finally comes to the table, then we must be ready to monitor a ceasefire to ensure it is a serious and enduring peace.